MUMBAI: Dish TV has posted a net loss of Rs 762.18 million for the quarter ended 31 December 2009, as against a net loss of Rs 1.18 billion in the year-ago period.
The third-quarter loss, however, has widened from the previous three months in which the leading DTH service provider had posted a loss of Rs 561.34 million.
Amassing 0.55 million subscribers during the quarter to take its total base to 6.4 million, Dish TV has reported a 43.91 per cent jump in gross sales and operating revenues to Rs 2.77 billion, compared to Rs 1.93 billion a year ago. The income in the trailing quarter was Rs 2.57 billion.
Average subscriber acquisition cost (SAC) stood at Rs 2,477, while ARPU (average revenue per user) dropped to Rs 135.
Dish TV‘s expenditure during the quarter was Rs 3.44 billion, up from Rs 2.89 billion in the year ago period, while it was Rs 3.07 billion in the trailing quarter.
Dish TV chairman Subhash Chandra said, “Our third quarter results are consistent with our objective of growing our business by offering superior television experience to our subscribers. We continued to add subscribers across the country with growth in all key parameters. During the quarter, Dish TV successfully raised $100 million through issue of GDRs, which would be utilised towards expanding its subscriber base.”
Dish TV MD Jawahar Goel added, "Continued robust demand for our service fuelled a 44 per cent growth in revenues over the corresponding period last year. Dish TV has 35 per cent market share in the Indian DTH market. We are investing for the future and executing operational efficiencies with the goal of driving long term, profitable growth.”
During the quarter, Dish TV revamped its marketing communication. It unveiled its new brand positioning revolving around the emotional connect with the customer. Focusing on its new tagline ‘Ghar aayi zindagi‘ (Bring home life), the company designed a 360 degree brand campaign with its brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan. As part of this new brand positioning, Dish TV also changed its logo depicting a more progressive, approachable, ambitious and contemporary brand identity aiming to connect strongly with its existing and new subscribers.
Also, the DTH company added ‘Cinema Active’ for the movie lovers in association with multiplex chain Fun Cinemas. The service helps Dish TV subscribers get an access to complete movie listing along with the show timings at all Fun Cinema screens across the nation and to book movie tickets.
During the quarter, Dish TV also entered into a tie up with Axis Bank for collection of DTH subscription recharge.
The company is planning to launch conditional access modules (CAM) that will allow consumers of other DTH operators to move to Dish TV.
